Switch for industrial-railway tracks.



H. HUGHES, A. FERGUSON & H. L. LOWE. SWITCH FOR INDUSTRIAL RAILWAY TRACKS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5, 1914.

1,1 14,883. Patented 0013.27, 1914.

I Attorneys lnventorJ UNITED Y STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

HOWARD HUGHES, ARTHUR FERGUSON, AND HARRY L. LOWE, CLINTON, INDIANA.

SWITCH FOR INDUSTRIAL-RAILWAY TRACKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 27,1914.

Application filed January 5, 1914. Serial No. 810,450.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, HOWARD Htrerrns, ARTHUR. FERGUSON, and HARRY L. Lown, citizens of the United States, residing at Clinton, in the county of Vermillion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Switch for Industrial -Railway Tracks, of which the following is a speci fication.

The present invention appertains to rail- Way switches, and aims to provide a novel an improved switch adapted particularly for use in mine or industrial railway tracks.

The present invention contemplates unique means for mounting a switch piece or tongue for oscillatory movements, whereby the switch piece or tongue will properly codperate with the end of the correspon ing rail.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter clescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made withinthe scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit oflthe invention.

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment inthe accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a. plan view of the switch, somewhat diagrammatical in nature. Fig.

2 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the switch pieces or tongues. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the other switch piece or tongue and its bearing. Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the bearings for the switch pieces. Fig. 5is a similar view of one of the supporting members for the switch pieces.

In the accompanying drawing, there is illustrated in Fig. 1, an ordinary switch layout of a mine or industrial railway track. The numerals land 2. designate the rails of the main track, while the numerals 3 and 4 designate the rails of the switch or side track. The rail 3 extends toward, but terminates short of, the main rail 1, while the rail 4 is connected to the rail 2 of the main track, the section or portion 2 of the rail 2 between the switch rails 8 and 4 extending, toward but terminating short of the end of the rail 4.

In carryin out the i present I invention, suitable switdh pieces or tongues 5 and 6 having their butt ends arranged adjacent or abutting against the ends of the rails :2 and 3 and have their tips or points arranged to engage the respective rails 1 and 2 in theusual manner. The switch pieces 5 and 6 are provided with inwardly projecting, downwardly offset cars 7 adjacent their free ends, which ears are pivoted to an underlying cross bar 8 which is adapted to be actuated by the usual switch stand, or its equivalent.

As a means for supporting the switch pieces 5 and 6 for oscillatory or vibratory movements, elongated plates or castings 9 are disposed on the tie underlying the switch pieces, and are provided at their 1 outer or remote ends with upwardly offset tongues or lips 10 overlapping the inner base flanges of the rails 1 and The plates or castings 9 are also provided with spike notches 11 in their side edges and inner ends, for securing the plates upon the tie underneath the switch pieces. The plates 9 are also provided with longitudinal upstanding ribs 12 extending away from and flush with the tongues or lips 10, and the switch pieces 5 andv 6 are slidable upon the ribs 12, whereby the switch pieces will be properly supported at their two positions. The tongues or lips 10 overlapping the base flanges of the rails, will also assist in holding the rails in place upon the ties.

Coming to the salient or cardinal feature of the present invention, which resides in sponding rails in abutment properly, there.

is provided for each switch piece, a bearing plate 13 resting upon that tie underlying the butt end oi. the switch piece and the end of the rail against which the switch piece abuts. The bearing plate 13 is provided at one end with an upstanding semi-circular seat 14 which is provided at its upper edge with an inturned flange or lip 15.

Each of the switch pieces has its butt end rounded, as at 16, to fit snugly against the end of the corresponding rail, and each switch piece is also provided with a depending shank or stem 17 at its butt end. The lower ends of the shanks or stems 17 are provided with outturned arcuate flanges 18, which extend through an are slightly over 180 degrees.

The bearing plates 13 are so arranged,

ed to the bearing plates 13, it being noted that the flan es 18 of the switch pieces may be readily inserted longitudinally under the flanges or lips 15 of the bearing plates, against the seats 14.

The bearing plates 13 are provided with notches19 at their side edges for the engagement of the spikes which secure the bear-.

ing plates to the underlying tie.

The bearing plates 13 are provided with means for accommodating or receiving the ends of the rails 2 and 3, whereby the ends of the said rails will be held in coiiperative relation with the switch pieces. To this end,'the plates 13 are provided with longitudinal open .slots 20 intermediate their side edges and extending away from the seats 14;, andzthe plates 13 are cut away or recessed as at 21, below and at the sides of the slots 20. Thus, the slots 20 are arranged to receive the webs of the rails 3 and 2 while the cut away portions or recesses 21 are adapted to receive the terminal portions of the base flanges of the said rails.

In assembling theswitch pieces and their hearing plates with the ends of the rails 2 and 3,'the switch pieces are first applied to 'theplates 13 by slipping the flanges 18 of 'the'switch pieces into engagement with the seats 14: of the bearing plates. Then, the bearing plates 13 may be engaged with the ends of the rails 3 and 2 by slipping the slots 20 of the bearing plates into engagement with the webs of the said rails, and then by securing the bearing plates 13 upon the underlying tie, the base flanges of the rails will be received or accommodated by the recesses 21 of the bearing plates 13. As a consequence, the butt ends of the switch pieces willbe held in abutment with the ends of the rails 3 and 2 and cannot be accidentallydetached without the separation of the bearing plates and rails 3 and 2*. It is to be observed'that'the butt ends of the switch pieces are rounded to snugly engage the ends of-the rails 3 and 2 and to permit the switch pieces to oscillate properly as the switch throw bar 8 is reciprocated.

When the interlocking portions of the switch pieces and their hearing plates are slipped longitudinally into engagement, and when the bearing plates are assembled with the ends of the rails 3 and 2 the switch pieces will be permitted to oscillate, but will be lockedragainst rearward or upward movement by the rails 3 and 2*.

From the foregoing, the advantages and capabilities of the present invention will be obvious to those versed in the art, without further comment being necessary.

Having thus described the invention,what is claimed as new is 1. In a device of the character described, a bearing and a switch piece, the bearing and switch piece having portions adapted to be interlocked by a longitudinal movement, and the bearing being applicable to the end of a rail whereby the switch piece will abut thereagainst and will be retained in engagement with the bearing.

2. In a device of the character described,

a bearing and a switch piece, the butt end of the switch piece and the bearing having portions adapted to be interlocked by a longitudinal movement, the bearing having-means for receiving the end of a rail whereby the butt end of the switch piece will abut thereagainst and whereby the swltch piece and bearing will be held in engagement.

3. In a device of the character described,

switch piece havinga curved'portion at its butt end engageable with the said seat, the said portion and seat being interengageable by a longitudinal movement, and the'bearing a bearing plate having a curved seat,and a l plate being applicable to the end of a rail to bring the butt end of the switch piece against the end of the rail and to hold the said curved portion engaged to the said seat.

4. In a device of the character described,

a bearing plate having an arcuate-seat, and' a switch piece having a curved portionengage-able with the said seat by a longitudinal movement, the bearing plate having means extending from the said seat for receiving the end, of a rail whereby the end'of the rail will hold the curved portion of the switch piece engaged to the said seat;

5. In a deviceof the character described, a bearing plate having-an arcuate seat, the

seat having an inturned lip, and a switch piece having a stub to engage the said lip, the stub having ,a flange-to engage the said seat under the said lip.

6. In a device of the character described,

a bearing plate, and a switch piece, the bean ing plate and butt end of the'switch piece having interengaging portions, and the bearing plate having an open slot to engage the web of a rail.

7 In a device of the-character described,

a bearing plate, and a switch piece, the bearing plate and butt end of the switch piece having interengaging portions, the bearing plate having an open slot to engage the web of a rail, and a cut away portion below the said slot for receiving'the base flange o'f-the rail.

8. In a device of the character described, a bearing plate having an arcuate seat,*'-an open slot extending away from the said seat- 1 to receive the web of a rail, and a recess below the said slot for receiving the base flange with the said lip, the said stub having an of the rail, and a switch piece having a arcuate flange engageable with the said seat curved portion to slip longitudinally into under the lip.

engagement with the said seat. 5 9. In a device of the character described, a bearing plate having a curved seat and an H ARRY LOWE.

open slot extending away from the said seat to receive the web of a rail, the said seat Witnesses:

havingan inturned lip, and a switchpiece CHAS. A. CANADAY, 10 the butt end of which has a stub engageable LUTHER M. 01011).

Copies of this patent may be obtained 1'01 five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents 1 Washington, 11.10. 

